A common cliché in gym culture is that a lifter or athlete “survives” a difficult workout. Whether it’s a tough leg day or 12 weeks of training, it wasn’t just that the person in question finished, they “survived”.
A devastating accident that changed everything
That word has a completely different meaning for Detective Tiffany Kautz San Bernardino (California) Sheriff’s Department. because he almost lost his life in June 2020 when a Dodge Ram truck traveling an estimated 95 miles per hour crossed the center line. The impact was so intense that it not only crushed the metal; he crushed it. The truck overturned, its engine block on top of Tiffany’s roof like a hot knife through oil. When the dust settled, Tiffany covered her head from her forehead to her eyes. Her hand was almost cut off. He coded twice in medical choppers.
The key to his survival can be credited to fellow detective Clarence Harris, who attended the police academy early in his career and was in the area to respond and alert his family, the first responders who quickly came to his aid, and the doctors and nurses who cared for him at the hospital. His personal athleticism and fitness level were also cited as assets that helped him.
“The nurse or the doctor told my husband that the only reason I was alive was because of my fitness,” Kautz said. “So I really, really believe that it saved my life in that event, and maybe if I hadn’t, my body wouldn’t have survived.”
How fitness helped save Tiffany Kautz’s life after a fatal accident
Before she wore a bra, Tiffany was a fixture in the fitness industry. He was a personal trainer and club manager at 24 Hour Fitness. He knew the science of hypertrophy and the need for cardiovascular output. When he transitioned into law enforcement in 2016, he didn’t leave the athlete behind; he hired an athlete.
“I really, truly believe that fitness is the most important thing to maintain the jobs that we have to do as law enforcement officers. You never know when you’re going to have to do those jobs.”
Kautz could not know that fitness will be a life-saving difference The creator is on the way to its end. Kautz spent several days in the ICU and two weeks in the hospital, but the good news was that she could go home. After she did that, her thoughts turned to how she could get back to work. This fitness background has served her well as she builds on what she knows and teaches clients.
“When I was released from the hospital, I really kicked it into high gear to make sure my diet was full of micronutrients, so there was a lot of color on my plate,” Kautz said. Then she focused more on what she couldn’t do than on what she could do.
“I was in a cast for, I don’t know, six weeks or eight weeks or something like that. So I couldn’t really do anything, but even in my cast, if I could do a lower body exercise, I would do a lower body exercise.”
What started as a recovery turned into an obsession in the best possible way. Even with his arm in a stabilizer, he bought ankle cuffs, strapped them to his biceps, and worked cables on his chest, shoulders, and back.
Within six months, Kautz thought he was close to being ready. That was until she went for a run and within a few steps felt pain in her arm from the shaking and pounding of her steps. After all that physical preparation and mental fortitude, this became the biggest mountain she faced. Kautz admitted that he questioned himself and why he was in this position, but his opponent was pulled out thanks to a doctor who doubted whether he could return to active duty.
“At one point the doctor said to me, ‘You better look at another profession, because you’ll never be able to shoot a gun again.’ And I’m going, ‘Look at me.'”
Return to active duty against the odds
Whether the doctor seriously thought Kautz couldn’t shoot again or just knew he needed to rekindle his fire; this statement was equivalent to a gas tank in hell. Kautz was doing light duty at this point, but he was doing physical therapy every day to stabilize his arm, then strengthen it, and eventually he got to the point where he could discharge his gun again. As great as it was, it was only the first step. Kautz’s next challenge was to prove that he could work hard enough to get back on the field.
Kautz said, “There’s a qualification that they put you through, and if you don’t pass that qualification, they fail you.”
Kautz missed a three-month review while rehabbing, but was able to complete it and qualify by completing the shooting tests. After a long, grueling recovery, light work while dealing with mental issues and a drive to prove the doctor wrong, that first day back on the field was his version of a gold medal.
“I had my teammates do all the fun stuff. When I sat down, I was excited to be back, to be in uniform and do something that helps our community, to be there and help someone who can’t help themselves.”
The mindset that contributed to Tiffany Kautz’s remarkable recovery
Most people who experience accidents like Kautz’s want to move on, but she sees her story as one that can benefit someone else. Like many of her first colleagues, the ultimate goal is to be of service, so she shares her experiences and hopes that others can benefit from what she has experienced to get in better shape, eat healthier, and take care of themselves. Sometimes, putting others first means putting yourself first. Taking care of yourself to be your best means you can give your best to those you care about. The wife, mother of two, police officer, Figure competitor and soon-to-be HYROX athlete is optimistic that if more people do this, they and their communities can be better off for it.
“I always make time for myself because if I make time for myself, I feel better when I make time for others,” Kautz said. “I really, really believe that if I don’t have my best, I can’t give you my best.”
